It's simple: When Newton throws interceptions, the Panthers lose. In Newton's young career, the team has yet to win a game in which he has been picked off.

Newton threw three interceptions last year in his first NFL game in his Atlanta hometown. The Panthers this week return to Atlanta, which leads the league with seven interceptions and 11 takeaways despite losing cornerback Brent Grimes to a season-ending Achilles’ injury.

If Newton wants the off-the-field talk to end, he needs to play better on the field. That means making better reads, throwing on time and avoiding passes into double-coverage.

The defense can help by stopping someone on an opening drive, keeping the offense out of the early holes that have forced offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to abandon the running game in both of the Panthers' losses.

The Panthers are the only team to allow touchdowns on each of their opponents' opening series. Atlanta is the lone team to score a touchdown on their first drive in every game.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS? Ron Rivera made the right choice by making Kealoha Pilares the primary kick returner again. Pilares had a good rookie season, averaging 25.7 yards a return and setting a team record with his 101-yard return against Detroit. But the coaching staff became enamored with fourth-round pick Joe Adams, a talented punt returner whose elusive lateral moves do not translate as well to kick returns. After Adams fumbled twice against the Giants, he made the decision an easy one for Rivera.